The Art of Hiding Cell Phone Towers In Our Backyards

Did you know the first faux tree cellphone tower was "planted" pre-3G network, way back in 1992? With wireless service providers continually trying to expand their coverage across cities and suburbs, the proliferation of network towers gave birth to a whole new species of trees...

In 1996 a palm tree appeared almost overnight in a suburb of Cape Town. This was supposedly the world's first ever disguised cell phone tower. Since then these trees have spread across the city, South Africa and the rest of the world. Invasive Species explores the relationship between the environment and the disguised towers of Cape Town and its surrounds.

Looking around Los Angeles, it's not an uncommon sight to see either a disguised network tower in tree guise or their naked counterparts (usually installed on the side corners of taller buildings). The quality of tree-disguised cell phone towers seem to vary, some looking convincing at a quick glance, others a slapdash unconvincing facsimile, like those plastic plants inside doctor's offices.

Do you live near a cell phone tower disguised as a tree? How do you feel about their appearance and proximity?